Sunday, June 3, 2007

I’ve noticed during my “minute” in New Orleans, that there are many ‘broken’ people here. And this is by no means a criticism. As I have just shared with you, I am one of them.

There are many people whom I have met (not all, by any means!) who were born here who are ‘broken’ - trying to make a way through; to make one's way out of* - who are trying to heal, often without the benefit of mental health services and medical services. Not to mention well documented imbalances of educational opportunities and opportunities for prosperity. There are many native New Orleanians who are 3rd and 4th generations of freed slaves. There are those from this heritage who have prospered and those who continue to suffer inter-generationally as a result of untreated PTSD symptoms which are in direct correlation to their either being the descendants of American slavery, and/or the PTSD related symptoms of living through racism that allowed public lynching’s, cross burnings, intimidation, murder, segregation, and a lack of educational opportunities. A re-read through black history books relating to slavery will help you remember the atrocities many families who were slaves lived through. How could peoples live through such atrocities and not be affected for generations. Look at the many Indian Americans who continue to suffer as a direct result of ethnic cleansing and acts of betrayal at the hands of ‘settlers’ and ‘forefathers’.

When African Americans who had lived all or most of their lives as ’slaves’, were freed, many who had suffered cruelly - mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, had no clinics, no self-help books, no guru‘s or psychologists, to help them process and heal the psychological and emotional implications related to the experiences of a living hell that they and generations of their families had just been through. Instead, for many, there was now a consciousness of hate that they experienced from (many-some) Caucasian Southerners and even Caucasian Northerners, who blamed them for the civil war and the deaths of their loved ones. And a contempt and hate for having skin that was a different color than the prevailing ruling class and race at the time - the Caucasian race. (I find this unfathomable - it is like one type of car hating another because it’s body is a different model or color!) Even though it was never the fault of the victims of slavery - as the fault was and continues to be, until full amends are made - of a nation so greedy for wealth and land; that they would slaughter anyone who stood in their way, (Indian Americans) and enslave (Africans, later American Blacks). Early on in the evolution of this nation, (and yes, even now…sigh) many of the Caucasian settlers believed in an ‘us’ and ‘them’ orientation to life (including our earliest of settlers in Massachusetts - the Puritans). Many misguided, God-fearing people, were able to cross over moral and ethical inner promptings that indicated, or not in some cases, to their consciousness', that the enslaved use of humans beings to build better lives for themselves and ‘their’ families was fundamentally wrong.

For the generations which followed the freed African American slaves who lived in the early and mid part of the 20th century, especially in the South, many continued to experience more insidious forms of hate and contempt, spread through new laws and through injustices of the law. In many cases racism came in the form of men with “white pillow cases over their heads with the eyes cut out” coming for them in the night. (A story told to me by a man in his eighties who lived in Mississippi as a child and went through such experiences).

For Black American men and women, especially in the South, there was the fear of taking certain roads or going to certain places with the knowledge that there could be unprovoked retribution just for waiting for a bus, going to a diner, or being a truck driver which led them to areas where the ‘whites’ lived and they were only welcomed as “help or as delivery folk”. There was the humiliation of having to use separate bathrooms at the work place and to live in ‘separate but equal’ neighborhoods. For their children to attend ’separate but equal’ schools. These human beings who did nothing more than to be born into a body that was not the ‘color peach’ were asked to sit at separate tables when having work related banquets even though each day, black and white man worked side by side, on their off time many drank together, and became friends. In the public arena, they were to suffer the humiliation of being separated by color. All the things I have just recounted did not come from headlines, or stories I have read or books, these are things the senior citizens I have come to know in New Orleans, have shared with me, and these stories are just a scratch upon the surface of what they have been through and the effects of the racism that they had to endure, has had upon them.

Then there was the ‘freedom’ that came with Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and many of the courageous acts of the Black American activists and leaders - the American Black empowerment movements of the 60’s and 70’s - yet many families continued to live in a level of poverty and deprivation, that as a white woman growing up in a middle class neighborhood at the same time, I never even imagined existed. It is only today in 2007, as a result of my time spent in New Orleans, that I now see. I am a witness to the effects of the suffering, racism, and the enormous disadvantages (mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically) that can come with chronic poverty. Yet, within all these movements, there was still not the necessary healing which addressed the PTSD symptoms that spread stealthily, often as undiagnosed and unrecognized pathologies, through generations of southern Black American families. Instead there was and continues to be ‘treatment’ in the form of imprisonment - now becoming a 'for profit' industry, and 'separate but equal' opportunities to prosper and grow. Nor has there been a national apology. As of posting of this blog, there have only 4 four states to ratify legislation to “apologize” to the African/Black Americans who are the descendants of slaves, for the egregious act of slavery.

Then Katrina hit. And the lid came off of a Southern city rich in heritage and history, and as a nation we witnessed the ‘unconscious’ to be generous, contempt of - our nation, our government - for a city with one of the largest Black American populations in the country.

As a direct result of the response to the suffering of the people who survived Katrina (in relation to the context what I have just written, the residents of New Orleans, many who are Black Americans, even more so who are low income and so have less opportunities for rebuilding), we have a new level of PTSD symptoms, adding genetically and generationally, to the other unhealed levels in the consciousness. (For the sake of someone not following where I am going or coming from within this blog - before you send me a snarky remark - I understand that many if not all of the residents of New Orleans, the outer parish‘s, other parts of Louisiana and Mississippi that were damaged, have been deeply affected by the events relating to Katrina and Rita.)

Where my line of consciousness has been coming from is that if we could understand the PTSD related affects of being a descendant of slavery, racism, ‘separate but equal’ experiences of poverty, health care, child care and opportunities for financial advancement; if the affects upon the human psyche and spirit within certain generations and people could be really understood - deeply appreciated -within our hearts and then in our minds, perhaps, as a nation, we could understand how important it is to the peoples who continue to suffer, especially for the Black New Orleanians whose homes, streets and communities have been destroyed - to be ‘met’ in their suffering ‘with’ us.

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TRUTH-FORCE ('SATYAGRAHA') AND THE FUTURE OF THE EARTH

The root meaning of 'Satyagraha', according to Mahatma Gandhi, was the force of truth or the soul-force that underlay the philosophy and practice of non-violent resistance. This force could move mountains and set men free.

Today, the challenges of life ask us to more firmly hold onto the force of truth within us so that we may stand aligned with the peoples of the world who are suffering, and with the earth itself that is in great need.

"WE ARE NOT OKAY"

NEW ORLEANS 2 YEARS LATER

A LONG WAY HOME - FIVE STORIES IN THE MIDST OF HUNDREDS OF ELDERLY RESIDENTS IN KATRINA-TORN NEW ORLEANSPHOTOGRAPHS AND AUDIO FROM GENARO MOLINA OF THE LA TIMES:Charles TaylorIn the Lower Ninth Ward, 81-year-old Charles Taylor has taken matters into his own hands and is rebuilding his home. After going through chemotherapy and radiation for stomach cancer in Mississippi, he felt well enough to make his way back to New Orleans to fix up his home. Narrated gallery

Joyce Boudousquie and Tommy Bilich Though some of the elderly are forced to go it alone, others have banded together. Joyce Boudousquie, 73, and Tommy Bilich, 75, struck up a friendship that Katrina could not tear apart. “Some neighbor of mine who is very close to me introduced me to Tommy and we became friends,” Joyce said.Narrated gallery

Joyce Simms Woods Joyce Simms Wood, 77, is surrounded by the few possessions that Hurricane Katrina did not steal from her. She’s been living in a FEMA trailer with dogs Ricky and Spreckles as her only companions, along with a TV that’s never turned off. “Everybody wants to go home, but I’m not home,” she said.Narrated gallery

Andrew Frick An ailing Andrew Frick, 84, bides his time in a FEMA trailer park while waiting for construction on his home in St. Bernard Parish to wrap up. Memories of his beloved wife, who passed away last year after 46 years of marriage, have sustained him through the rough patches.Narrated gallery

Juliette and John Allen Juliette Allen, 64, visits the area where her house once stood in the Lower Ninth, now a wide patch of dirt. She and husband John, 74, plan to return. Although they live in a small, roach-infested home in the Lower Garden District, Juliette counts her blessings to be in New Orleans. Narrated gallery

WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP?

Each of the following ads seek much needed help and are not asking for a lot of commitment. A 'burst' of help is needed...

Desperately Seeking Donations

We are a community advocacy non-profit 501(c)3 agency assisting individuals with disabilities. We desperately need donations (cars...running, household items, or other things of value) to help fund our community-based program. Your donations will help individuals with disabilities find and develop income producing ventures to enhance their lives. Tax donation forms available.

Call Christopher or Sue at (504)366-8801.

BOOKS 2 PRISONERS NEEDS HELP MOVING/BUILDING

We are moving our program back to it's post K home.

We need help framing and hanging the walls, and them moving the stuff.

for more info go to http:// www.geocities.com/books2prisoners

Posted: December 27, 2007

HELP ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY THIS HOLIDAY...

...so I'm just a regular guy who heard a very sad thing on the radio. A soldier stationed in Baghdad said, "This is not America's war, this in only a soldiers war on TV some place far far away."

He's right. What sacrifices have I made...not many. Regardless of whether you agree or don't agree (and I don't, vehemently), the fact is those guys and gals are doing it and dying for it under the flag of our United States.

So this holiday season, my organization, Grass Matts, is going to find homes in New Orleans of active duty military personnel and go cut their grass, trim a hedge, or paint a mail box.

Whatever chore they may need for half a day or so. If anyone is interested in joining me to say thank you with deeds and not just words, please send me an email or give me a call.

FROM YOUR PLANETARY SISTER:Helping, I have found is not always about doing the big, grand things, often helping can be at it's most meaningful when we are helping another planetary brother and sister in meaningful ways for them. This could be something you can do, if you want to help, by setting the blog for Kamp Katrina and showing them how to upload future articles and pictures. Once it has been started and organized, MS Pearl could take it from there. Or, she could find someone else who would be willing to help in the next phase. Here's the thing I have found out about "helping" - it can feel like a small thing to you, whilst at the same time, feel like a very big thing to the recipient. PEACE.

NEW ORLEANS AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SEEKS VOLUNTEERS!

Looking for a way to thank the thousands of volunteers from all over the world who have come to New Orleans to offer their support?New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity is seeking volunteers to help renovate Camp Hope, our volunteer housing in Saint Bernard. Help us make Camp Hope a comfortable, affordable, place to house our volunteers who have travelled from afar to help rebuild our city! For more information please contact Melissa Manuselis atvolunteer@habitat-nola.org.

Welcome...

This is a challenging blog to read... it is a difficult blog to write. The challenges and difficulties are even greater for those living the reality I that I document and photograph. After I have finished with a day of volunteering and photographing, I have the opportunity to walk away from the worst of the suffering. Not so for the families, the children, and the elderly, living in the toxic FEMA trailers, the abandoned houses, violence prone and devastated neighborhoods. Their suffering is ongoing and profound. I have never met stronger people of faith.

In our modern society I have noticed that many people spend an awful lot of time avoiding suffering and pain. That's what makes this blog so challenging to read and to "be with". I am sure there will be those who come to this site and wonder "why doesn't she post more positive things?" I am photographing and writing about the reality that I am witnessing and I understand that after a long day at work or trying to get through your own lives, how you would want to push the painful photo's and experiences I write about, away.

Here's the thing, if there weren't so many instances and experiences of suffering in New Orleans, I would have nothing to document or photograph. Yet there are far too many. And so, I write, I photograph, I pray, I cry, and I feel my profound helplessness as I witness the suffering and the hardships endured by local New Orleanians daily - many seeking to overcome (and overcoming) incredible difficulties and sufferation, whilst others succumb to fates of hopelessness, poverty, crime, and illiteracy.

This blog is my contribution to the beautiful people of New Orleans. When I have finished my work in New Orleans, I plan donate all the photo’s I have taken to an archive, as many of the photo‘s are anthropological in nature.

Everything on this site is meant to be shared, to inspire, and to help educate the millions in this country and elsewhere on this planet who believe that 2 years after Katrina and the levee breaks, that "everything must be okay now".

2 years after Katrina and the levee breaks, for thousands of New Orleanians, everything “is not okay“.

Volunteers are still needed. Especially people who can help rebuild. Even more so, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, and spiritual counselors who are willing to come down and volunteer. Your help is still needed. Your financial donations are needed. Your love is needed. Your prayers and blessings are needed.

Spread the word. Feel free to use anything on this website. All I ask is that you credit what you use to this web-site so that people will be able to read more about what I have witnessed occurring to thousands still suffering in New Orleans.

IRAQ IS OUR VIETNAM AND NEW ORLEANS IS OUR BIRMINGHAM

"This moment in history is our generation’s lunch-counter moment -Iraq is our Vietnam and New Orleans is our Birmingham. Our generation could be the generation to defeat racism, poverty and war, but only if we come together as people of conscience."

REBUILDING-DISASTER RESOURCES: NOLA

"Do you ever see the rainbow in the sky? Do the colors fight amongst themselves? Then why should mankind fight amongst themselves trough their different colors? The whole world is a garden and all the people in it are his flowers and we all beautify this garden with all our different colors. As the rainbow is in the heavens so are we, as rainbow people in his earth. Jah made all colors so all things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful he made them all. Each little flower that opens, and each little bird that sings he made their glowing colors and he made their tiny wings. So remember: What does it profit a man to gain the whole word and lose his soul."

PERSONAL "PLANETARY" RESONANCE

IN GRATITUDE...

To the Volunteers - Who responded with love and kindness. Most of all, to those who came and gutted out the houses - a toxic job and a special job - as your work involved the 'gutting out' of lives, histories, and heritiages. Your work was so important in the first phase of the ongoing healing process. It is the volunteers - past, present, and future, who are an essential key to the rebuilding of trust and hope... by your very presence. Thank you.

To the People of the Heart - Thank you for trusting me and allowing me into your lives to share your pain with you. Most of all, for your smiles and waves as I drive through your communities, and a gratitude which is expressed in your hugs and words of love and blessings. To be seen with love through your eyes is to "be seen". I am humbled by your strength, courage, and dignity.

On Suffering and Compassion:

"The experience of woundedness has been a part of the history of souls on earth. The experience of wholeness is the 'new' history, whose pages are beginning to be written."
Julie Redstonewww.LightOmega.org